PDB Afternoon Bulletin | January 6th, 2025: FBI Releases NOLA Killer's Recordings & North Korea Fires Suspected Hypersonic Ballistic Missile - The President's Daily Brief

Summary3 min read

The President's Daily Brief: PDB Afternoon Bulletin Summary

Episode: January 6th, 2025
Host: Mike Baker
Release Date: January 6, 2025

1. Update on the ISIS-Inspired New Orleans Terror Attack

Timestamp: 00:12 - 05:02

Mike Baker opens the bulletin by revisiting the tragic ISIS-inspired terror attack that occurred on New Year's Day in New Orleans. He provides a comprehensive update on the case, shedding light on the background and meticulous planning of the perpetrator, Shamsuddin Jabbar.

Perpetrator's Background and Movements:

Baker reveals that Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran, conducted at least two scouting trips to New Orleans before executing his attack. "Jabbar made at least two visits to New Orleans before the New Year's Day attack, which he documented on video at a press conference on Sunday" (00:45).

During his first visit on October 30th, Jabbar stayed in a rental home and recorded his activities around the French Quarter using Meta Smart glasses to plan his assault. His second visit on November 10th remains under investigation, with authorities still piecing together its significance.
Planning and Execution of the Attack:

On December 31st, Jabbar departed from his Houston neighborhood, claiming a new job in New Orleans. By midnight, he had parked his rented Ford F150 and set fire to his rental property as a diversion tactic. Despite his efforts, the fire was quickly extinguished without destroying evidence.

Baker outlines the attack timeline: Jabbar planted two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and coolers rigged for remote detonation in the Bourbon Street area. "At roughly 1:53am, one of the coolers was moved by unwitting bystanders, and the second bomb was planted at roughly 2:20am" (04:15). These devices were successfully neutralized by authorities before detonating.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigations:

The attack resulted in 14 fatalities and 35 injuries when Jabbar drove his truck through a crowd of revelers at 3:15am. Local police engaged in a shootout with Jabbar, ultimately resulting in his death. Two officers sustained injuries but are recovering.

Investigations are delving into Jabbar's foreign trips to Egypt and Canada earlier in 2023 to ascertain any potential links to international terrorist networks. Despite these findings, the FBI maintains that Jabbar acted alone without domestic accomplices.

Baker emphasizes the gravity of the situation: "Jabbar, a convert to Islam, posted five videos to social media in the hours before the attack in which he, quote, pledged allegiance to ISIS" (03:30). These videos indicate his alignment with extremist ideologies, further complicating the security landscape.

2. North Korea Fires Suspected Hypersonic Ballistic Missile

Timestamp: 05:55 - 05:55

Resuming after a brief interruption, Baker shifts focus to North Korea's latest military maneuver, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.

Details of the Missile Test:

North Korea conducted an advanced missile test, firing what is suspected to be a hypersonic ballistic missile. The missile ascended over 60 miles, traveled approximately 690 miles, and landed in the East Sea near Russian economic waters—"raising fresh concerns about deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow" (05:20).
International Reactions:

The test elicited strong condemnations from the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the launch as a blatant violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, stating it "undermines regional stability" (05:10). Japan's Prime Minister echoed these sentiments, urging for enhanced deterrence measures in response to North Korea's technological advancements.
Geopolitical Implications:

This missile test occurs against the backdrop of North Korea's alleged support for Russia's endeavors in Ukraine, exchanging military assistance for advanced technologies. Baker highlights the strategic timing, coinciding with the U.S. reinforcing its trilateral security alliances and President Elect Trump's impending inauguration, signaling North Korea's intent to assert its military prowess.

Additionally, the international community remains vigilant as North Korea's actions are interpreted as a continuation of its nuclear ambitions and a challenge to the perceived U.S.-led encirclement strategy.

Conclusion

Mike Baker's detailed briefing provides listeners with an in-depth understanding of two pivotal events shaping national and international security landscapes. From the harrowing updates on the New Orleans terror attack to the alarming advancements in North Korea's missile capabilities, the bulletin underscores the complex challenges facing the United States and its allies.

For further inquiries or comments, listeners are encouraged to reach out via email at pdb@thefirsttv.com. Stay informed and vigilant as these situations continue to evolve.

Note: All timestamps are approximated based on the provided transcript sections.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:12]
Mike Baker
It's Monday the 6th of January. Welcome to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. First, an update on the ISIS inspired New Orleans a terror attack, as the FBI releases video recordings from the killer that show him surveying the site of the attack some two months before his murderous rampage. Then we'll turn to North Korea, where Kim Jong Un is kicking off the New Year with a bang, testing an intermediate range ballistic missile with suspected hypersonic capabilities. But first, our afternoon spotlight. I want to return to our coverage of the ISIS inspired New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans where a US army veteran drove a pickup truck through a crowd of revelers, killing 14 and injuring 35 others. We're now learning that the the terrorist, identified as 42 year old Shamsuddin Jabbar, made at least two visits to New Orleans before the New Year's Day attack, which he documented on video at a press conference on Sunday. FBI officials said Jabbar first visited the site of his attack on 30 October, staying at a rental home in the city for several days. That's according to a report from cnn. During his stay, Jabbar recorded video as he bicycled through the French Quarter around Bourbon Street. He reportedly used a pair of Meta Smart glasses to film the street and plan out his attack. Jabbar returned to New Orleans again on 10 November, though investigators said they're still attempting to piece together the details of that second trip. On Sunday, the FBI released a compilation of video recordings made by Jabbar, as well as footage captured on security cameras of Jabbar walking through the French Quarter just hours before the attack. The video released by the FBI provides the first rough timeline of the events of that tragic day. Investigators said that after renting the Ford F150 truck used in the attack, Jabbar left his home in a Muslim immigrant neighborhood north of Houston on the morning of December 31, telling a neighbor that he was moving to New Orleans for a new job. He arrived in Louisiana at around 2:30pm on 31 December and later unloaded his truck at an Airbnb rental property in New Orleans. At roughly 10pm 15 minutes after midnight, Jabbar set fire to the rental home and left in the truck. Authorities said this was likely done as a diversion and to hide evidence of his crimes, but the fire failed to engulf the home and was later put out. Jabbar then headed into the heart of the city planting two improvised explosive devices and coolers in the Bourbon street area, which were rigged for remote detonation. Now, officials said one of the coolers left at the corner of Bourbon and St. Peter street at roughly 1:53am was moved at some point roughly a block away by unwitting bystanders. The second bomb was planted at roughly 2:20am Less than an hour later, at 3:15am Jabbar would carry out his attack. Authorities were able to neutralize both of the improvised explosive devices planted in the city, along with a third homemade bomb found in his vehicle. Officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said Sunday that Jabbar might have been successful in setting off the explosives if not for the prompt and heroic response of local police who engaged in a shootout with Jabbar after he crashed the truck, ultimately killing him. Two officers were injured in that firefight but are recovering from their wounds. In addition to Jabbar's two previous scouting trips to New Orleans, authorities are also probing trips he took to both Egypt and Canada. Jabbar traveled to Cairo from June 22 to July 3, 2023, and then visited Ontario, Canada, from July 10 to July 13, 2023. While the FBI maintains that Jabbar acted alone and has no domestic accomplices, they're still tracking down the details of those foreign trips to determine whether or not they are tied in any way to the attack. As a reminder, Jabbar, a convert to Islam, posted five videos to social media in the hours before the attack in which he, quote, pledged allegiance to isis. In the videos, apparently addressed to his family and recorded while he was driving, he claimed to have officially joined the Islamic State sometime before last summer. Coming up in North Korea just conducted their first weapons test of the new year, firing off an intermediate range ballistic missile with suspected hypersonic capabilities. I'll be right back.
[05:03]
Tucker Carlson
Hey, it's Tucker Carlson. We are proud to provide a venue for Oliver Stone's son Sean, who's a friend of ours and also a filmmaker. His latest documentary series called all the President's Men. It's a multi part series in which he explains in vivid detail how the first Trump administration, 2016-2020, was subverted from the very first day by the Deep State who picked off one by one members of the then president president's inner circle and some of them are still on the scene. You will see in depth interviews with, for example, Cash Patel, who is the incoming President's new FBI director, with Mike Flynn and many other people you know, whose whole stories you may not have heard before. It's an amazing series. All the President's Men by Sean Stone playing right now ontucker carlson.com we're proud to have it. We think you'll like.
[05:55]
Mike Baker
Welcome back to the AFTERNOON Bulletin. It took little Rocket man less than a week into the new year. In its first weapons test of 2025, North Korea fired what is suspected to be a mid range ballistic missile even as Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with South Korea's acting president in Seoul during that country's ongoing political uncertainty. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missile was fired from an area near Pyongyang in North Korea early Monday, reaching an altitude of over 60 miles and traveling some 690 miles before splashing into the East Sea. While the missile's exact classification remains under analysis, officials suspect that it may be similar to the hypersonic missiles tested by North Korea this past year, which are designed to evade interception through through mid flight maneuverability. Japan's Defense Ministry confirmed the missile splashdown outside its exclusive economic zone with no damage to vessels. However, its landing in Russia's economic waters well raises fresh concerns about deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. This high profile launch comes after a spate of short range missile tests in November of this past year, strategically timed just before the US Presidential election. Now, as President Elect Trump prepares to take office and Washington reinforces its trilateral security alliance with Seoul and Tokyo, Pyongyang's calculated timing well sends a clear signal of its strategic intent. The U.S. south Korea and Japan, of course, denounced the launch. In coordinated responses, South Korea's military they elevated its surveillance and maintained a heightened readiness posture. Secretary Blinken, speaking at a press conference in Seoul, condemned the missile test as another violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, characterizing North Korea's actions as provocations that undermine regional stability. And as we all well know at this point, if there's one thing that Kim Jong Un really hates, it's violating UN Security Council resolutions. Blinken added that the Biden administration has attempted to sit down with Pyongyang without preconditions. However, Blinken stated, the only response effectively we've gotten has been more and more provocative actions, including missile launches, end quote. Well, it's still a response, I suppose. Japan's prime minister echoed Blinken's sentiments, warning of the implications of Pyongyang's technological advances, stating the frequency of these launches and the evident improvement in technology demand that we redouble our efforts to strengthen deterrence, end quote. That's underscoring, of course, the urgency of regional security cooperation. The test coincides with past reports suggesting that North Korea is trading its troops to assist Russia's war with Ukraine in exchange for advanced satellite technology and other weapons technology. This ongoing romance between Putin and Kim Jong Un, of course, complicates an already volatile geopolitical landscape. State run media in North Korea has yet to comment on the test. The regime there usually announces results about 24 hours after any launch. But the act is widely interpreted as a continuation of the regime's nuclear ambitions and a justification for its military buildup against what it perceives as as US Led encirclement. And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon bulletin for Monday 6th January. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@thefirst tv.com and don't forget what your mother told you. If you want to listen to the show ad free, well, simply become a premium member of the President's Daily brief by visiting pdbpremium.com it really is that simple. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.